Title

Authors

Publication Year

2001

Keywords

Wolbachia, Drosophila melanogaster, biology, bacteria

Disciplines

Biology | Genetics and Genomics | Life Sciences

Abstract

Wolbachia is an obligate intracellular bacterium that can manipulate its host to benefit the bacteria's survival. In D. melanogaster, Cytoplasmic Incompatibility (CI) increases the relative number of infected fruit flies in a given generation. To attempt to identify potential host genes involved in CI, Df strains could be used in a screen that would identify genes that affect CI in a dose-dependent manner. One infected strain out of five tested showed CI, and three Df strains have undergone an initial screen. The CI observed in Df strains is similar to CI observed with wild-type strains, so survey may reveal host genes involved in CI. It is unknown why the other four tested strains did not show CI. A small survey of infection of laboratory and wild stocks showed that Wolbachia infection is quite common.